Adams class ship USS Essex (IX-10) was designed and constructed by premier North American shipwright Donald McKay. Her keel was laid down in 1874 and she was launched in 1876. She was a three-decked wooden screw steamer sloop-of-war with auxiliary sail (bark-rigged). She was 185 feet long, 35 feet in the beam, had a 14.25-foot draft, and was 1,375 tons. When commissioned, she carried six big guns, all muzzle loaders: one XI-inch and four IX-inch Dahlgren Naval Artillery guns, and one 60-pound Parrott Rifle The ship’s armory carried dozens of small arms including rifles, pistols, revolvers, and cutlasses. Further, she carried a six auxiliary boats including a launch, two cutters, a whale boat, one gig, and a dinghy. The combinations of guns and watercraft carried on board USS Essex could change from log book to log book. She served with the US Navy in active duty and as a training ship with the Ohio Naval Militia, the Illinois Naval Militia, and the Minnesota Naval Militia. She was intentionally burned on Minnesota Point in Lake Superior at Duluth in 1931. Her Minnesota Archaeological Site Number is 21-SL-1030 and she is a National Register of Historic Places Property.

Maritime Heritage Minnesota digitized the 62 known USS Essex log books held at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 2010. The log books consist of the daily activities on board the Essex as recorded by deck officers on duty. Those deck notes were then transcribed to be the official log of the Essex that were sent to the Navy Department in Washington, DC, where they were bound into their current book form. At the beginning of most log books, there are: a title page, two list of officers pages, a crew complement page (listing the crew by rank and job), an armaments page (list of the different large guns, boats, and small arms), and two pages of compass observations. Not all log books contain these pages and some include additional information, including a plan and section of the Essex in Log Books 8 and 9 and four pages of directions on how to fill out log pages in Log Book 21. Sometimes two transcribed versions of log pages were sent to the Navy Department and duplicate books were produced. However, sometimes the duplicate books were not bound with exactly the same pages, so some books overlap each other in date. Also, some log book pages have writing too close to its spine edge and after binding, some words and numbers were ‘lost’ in the spine if the binding remained tight over the decades. Further, it must be kept in mind that the names of ships, both American and foreign, as well as geographical locations usually expressed in different languages will have variations in spelling. With this in mind, the deck officers of the Essex, when writing the log pages, may misunderstand what the actual name of a ship or geographical marker actually is and their handwriting may present challenges or be nearly illegible. The digitization and editing of the USS Essex log books were made possible with funding provided by the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant program, part of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

Log Book 24 of the USS Essex: January 1, 1888-June 30, 1888

The National Archives houses USS Essex Log Book 24. Throughout Log Book 24,  comments were made on:

• sail adjustments with sail type and action specified
• banking of boiler fires in order to put the ship on stand-by for immediate use
• coupling and uncoupling the propellor when the ship was shifting from steam to sail and vice-versa
• when under steam the different watches record the average steam boiler pressure and engine revolutions
• lowering of smokestack and proceeded under sail and vice-versa when the Essex was underway
• when anchored nearly every watch described the state of the anchor cables: crossed (‘cross in hawse, stbd chain on top’ or ‘Elbow in hawse’) and often will mention ‘clearing the hawse’ (the crossed anchor cables were uncrossed)
• casting deep sea lead for soundings
• patent log readings
• water distillation using the ship’s boilers to produce freshwater and refilling the freshwater tanks
• coaling of the ship
• weather recording: temperature, wind speed and direction, barometer readings, state of the sea
• recording the ship’s behavior (heavy rolling or pitching)
• testing flood cocks in magazine and gun rooms
• testing of all electrical apparatus
• crew conducting ship maintenance: engine maintenance/repair, boiler maintenance/repair, coal bunker maintenance/repair, general ship cleaning, bilge cleaning and checking pumps, scraping and painting - and sometimes tarring and caulking - the ship’s hull and infrastructure, rigging repair/replacement, repairing sails, replacing sails, steam cutter maintenance/repair, steam/sail launch maintenance/repair, gig maintenance/repair, dinghy maintenance/repair, whale boat maintenance/repair, turned and cleaned hammocks and bedding, repairing rail, gun carriage/battery maintenance/repair
• crew conducting drills: furling and unfurling sails, target practice with the main battery (great guns), boat drills - all hands called to arms and away all boats for naval tactics under sail and oars, general quarters drills, torpedo drills, abandon ship drills, landing party drills,
• cadet/apprentice drills: signaling drills
• receiving fresh water from shore through pumps or lighter
• receiving provisions and stores: food, medical supplies, clothing, engineering gear, construction
• Quarterly Board of Survey’s findings of condemned articles on board (food, equipment) and their fate (food was usually tossed overboard) from the inventories of the different ship’s departments (Ordnance, Engineering, Navigation, Equipment, Medical, Pay)
• crew promotions
• crew quarters inspection
• liberty parties sent ashore
• lists of new crew members - recruits or transfers from other ships- taken on board during a cruise
• crew transfers to other ships
• crew reporting the expiration of their contracted naval service
• crew members in solitary confinement or other punishments for various infractions, AWOL crew, general and summary court martial proceedings, AWOL crew put in irons
• rewards offered for the return of AWOL crewmen
• weekly Sunday services; after the services, once a month, the Articles for Better Government of the Navy were read to the crew

NOTE: The Essex deck officers who recorded the daily happenings on the ship often translated the names of non-American ships incorrectly. MHM determined the correct spellings of the ships and those corrections are reflected in the Finding Aid, not the poorly transliterated ship names.

At the beginning of Log Book 24, in January 1888, USS Essex was anchored in Kobe Harbor, Japan, under Commander Theodore Frelinghuysen Jewell. USS Essex was assigned to the US Asiatic Squadron. On January 2, 1888, sloop Flagship USS Brooklyn fired a 5-gun salute with the French flag at the fore and the Commanding Officer of HMS Linnet visited Essex. In early January, the Canadian Pacific steamer Parthia and a French Messageries Maritimes steamer left the harbor. The crew cleaned the copper bottom of the sailing launch’s and the Navigator took all the compasses on shore and tested them for susceptibility to vibrations. One crewman described as 'crazy drunk' was brought on board by local authorities and confined in double irons. Essex sent a reward to the US Consulate for delivery to the police for their help. The crew were put through drills - they called away all boats and exercised the running boats crews at pulling, and the Japanese mail steamer SS Tokio Maru entered the harbor. On January 6, hard hat divers from sloop Flagship USS Brooklyn were assigned to repair an inspection valve on Essex under the waterline.

Other repairs and maintenance were conducted throughout the month. The crew took the gig ashore and scrubbed her out on the beach. The outer hull of the ship and the gun carriages were scraped. Mid-month a gang of caulkers from the shore came on board to caulk the outside of the ship and work on the ship’s boiler. The Engineering Department was busy repairing the engine and tested all electrical connections & batteries. The Carpenter’s Gang fitted a new piece of seating rail on starboard side of the poop and once the Essex’s outer hull was scraped, near the end of the month the outer hull was painted. The Sailmaker measured the ship for a new set of awnings. Also during January, the crew conducted exercises on shore by landing Battalions on shore for drills. The Marine Guard mustered and underwent inspection and then performed bayonet exercises. A Naval cadet detached from the ship and was ordered to Panama and then the Naval Academy via sloop USS Omaha, anchored in the harbor. Seven additional crewmen transferred to Omaha and she headed out to sea. Essex half-masted her flag along with Flagship USS Brooklyn following the motions of the French corvette Parseval. Throughout January, Essex exchanged courtesies and visits with ships at Kobe including German gunboat Wolf, Japanese ironclad Ryujo, protected cruiser HMS Leander, French flagship battleship Turene and cruiser Primauguet, and American barque St. James.

During February 1888, foreign and Japanese ships entered and left Kobe Harbor; often Essex and the other ships exchanged visits and pleasantries. These ships were the French gunboat Parceval, Japanese gunboat ironclad Ryujo, German gunboat Wolf, Russian armored cruiser Flagship Dmitrii Donskoi flying the pennant of Vice Admiral Schmidt, Russian gunboat Bobr, and French cruiser Primaquet. During one visit, Commander Jewell welcomed Vice Admiral Schmidt, Captain Skoycloff, and Captain Molas of the Imperial Russian Nay on boar Essex. The activities undertaken by the Essex crew included breaking out the forehold and restowing it, they examined the magazine and shell room flood cocks, sea cocks to the forecastle pump, gun cotton and electrical apparatuses, and all were in good condition, and shore workmen worked in the Engineering Department throughout February. The men polished the broad side guns, painted the white stripe along the outer hull, and scraped the poop deck. The crew put the boiler back into the steam cutter and the fires from boilers #1 and #3 to boilers #5 and #7. The dinghy was taken ashore and scrubbed; an oar was broken in the process.

Other February activities that took place on Essex included the auction of the personal effects of George Middleton, a crewman who fell out of the rigging and died in late December. An Essex crewman was brought aboard by a Kobe municipal policeman on board a Yokohama steamer. The crewman was confined on Essex and awaited further action; he was sent to the US Consul to answer to charges of assault and battery. However, the crewman returned and trial was postponed. One crewman was sent to the US Naval Hospital in Yokohama and on February 22, the men dressed the ship in honor of George Washington's birthday; the German gunboat Wolf followed suit.

Throughout March, workmen from Kobe were still employed in the Engineering Department and the outer hull of the ship was still being painted; and the inside of the gig was painted. The dinghy was sent ashore and was scrubbed and painted, the Sailmakers gang put lagging (insulation) on the boilers and worked on the hammock clothes. In order to test the circuit, the crew fired a light gun cotton torpedo from the starboard boom. The steam cutter was tested for two hours and it was found that the steam whistle did not work and they burned out one grate bar. Late in the month, it was noticed that a piece of the port galley top was burned out and cracked off. The Board of Survey condemned six coal buckets and recommended their repair.

In March 1888, Essex exchanged greetings and pleasantries with the German and  American Consuls stationed in Kobe, French cruiser Primaquet, Russian gunboat Bobr, American ship Yorktown,German corvette Sophie, French battleship Flagship Turene,and German gunboat Wolf announced the death of Emperor William. Essex half-masted her colors for the former emperor and the crew dressed the ship in honor of the new Emperor of Germany - following suit behind Wolf. A variety of military exercises were conducted in March. The crew landed a battalion for a company drill (after they returned, musket #25 was found to have a crack in the stock), the crew exercised boats at naval tactics, the men practiced sail furling and unfurling, and the Marine Guard practiced at oars using the 2nd cutter. General Quarters and great guns drills were ordered late in the month. The Ship’s Paymaster sent 10 yen to the US Consulate as the reward to be delivered to Kobe authorities for the return of an Essex crewman who was AWOL. In the end, four crewman were brought back to the ship by police and other men returned to Essex on there own - late and drunk. One man was confined in double irons for being noisy and he created a disturbance in the brig. One crewman returned to the ship from Kobe Hospital and the Chief Engineer took a 6-day leave of absence.

In April 1888, Commander Jewell exchanged visits and pleasantries with the German corvette Flagship Bismarck and corvette Sophie (after they had left the harbor and then returned after target practice), French gunboat Parseval, German corvette Carola, sloop-of-war USS Juniata, French Flagship Turene, protected cruiser HMS Leander, American bark Adolf Obrig, and Russian screw clipper Nayezdnik. Flagship Turene fired an 11-gun salute and USS Juniata saluted the port, the French Admiral, and the German Commodore in the harbor. Drills included the crew being sent out in boats to be exercised under oars in charge of a coxswain. Essex underwent repairs and maintenance throughout April including the replacement of the fore and main rigging ratlines, repairing the main topsail, whale boat, and coal bunkers, and painting the starboard gangway railing. Workmen from Kobe were still at work in the Engineer’s Department for most of the month and a contractor made boiler repairs.* Essex transferred a crewman to USS Juniata, US Mail was taken on board, and the Paymaster received $14,000 in yen for ship’s business. Crewmen who were AWOL were returned by the Kobe police and rewards were given, and a Japanese workman found with liquor on board Essex was delivered to local authorities.

For the first three weeks in May 1888, Essex remained in Kobe Harbor, Japan. The crew conducted military drills including acting in battalions during a shore drill, they exercised at the great guns very often, conducted ‘abandon ship’ and making and furling sails drills, the crew called away all boats to exercise in naval tactics, and the apprentices were exercised at signals. Maintenance and repair was conducted on the sailing launch that was send ashore to be scrubbed, and the Sailmaker’s Gang made a new cover for the 1st cutter. Notes were made about the prisoners being held for Courts Martial, including their repeated exercise times and then their General and Summary Courts Martial, resulting in confinement and dishonorable discharges. Essex exchanged courtesies with English gunboat HMS Rattler, American bark Sunbeam, American ship St. Francis, sloop Flagship USS Brooklyn, protected cruiser HMS Leander, and French battleship Flagship Turene, corvette Parseval, and cruiser Primauguet. In mid-May, Essex’s Lieutenant Commander G.H. Bicknell left the ship on 30 days leave, and it was reported that “men [were] giving entertainment on board to crew of Brooklyn” - it is assumed some Essex crewmen ‘put on a show’. Preparations were made for going to sea, including the coaling of the ship, and the Engineering Gang lit the fires in all the boilers, turned over the engine and then started it, she shifted berth, exchanged signals with USS Brooklyn, and left Kobe Harbor with in consort with Flagship Brooklyn on May 20.

USS Essex and USS Brooklyn headed for Yokohama and passed a Japanese bark along the way. On May 22, the ships anchored in Yokohama Harbor, they exchanged signals, and Commander Jewell paid an official visit to the Flagship. Communications and courtesies were exchanged with German gunboat Iltes, gunboat HMS Rattler, protected cruiser HMS Leander, gunboat USS Monocacy, and Japanese ironclad Fuso. On May 24, a salute was fired by HMS Leander, USS Brooklyn, HIJMS Fuso,and a Yokohama shore battery in honor of Queen Victoria’s birthday; the crew dressed Essex with rainbow pennants along with the Flagship. The steam cutter was launched for testing and it was found to be working well, and the ship’s boilers were drained. Apprentices and Courts Martial prisoners were transferred to USS Brooklyn, some Brooklyn crewmen were transferred to Essex, and the Essex officers made a sick report to the Flagship. Commander Jewell awarded a good conduct badge with bars to crewman George Huyck, and the CO and his officers gave ‘an entertainment’ on board the Essex on May 31.

For the first four days of June 1888, Essex took on coal from Langfeld & Meyer of Yokohama, after Commander in Chief Admiral Chandler rejected 50 tons of Takasima coal from Jardine & Matheson, sending away their lighters. Essex transferred personnel with both sloop USS Marion, gunboat USS Monocacy, and Flagship USS Brooklyn, and sent crewman to US Naval Hospital in Yokohama. English gunboat HMS Rattler attempted to leave the harbor twice, only to anchor and stay in at Yokohama; and a French gunboat anchored in the port. On June 4, Essex left Yokohama in the evening and headed through Yeddo Bay and into the Inland Sea. She passed through Kii Channel and into Nagasaki Harbor on June 9. Commander Jewell exchanged visits from officers of the Russian corvette Rynda and cruiser Vitiaz, as well as the US Consul. While anchored at Nagasaki, the Gunners Gang shortened the new breechings for the broadside battery, took on over 28 tons of coal, and 500 pounds of tobacco for the Paymaster’s stores. On June 13, Essex left the harbor for Chemulpo, (Incheon), Corea (Korea), taking gunnery exercises along the way. On June 15, the ship anchored in Chemulpo, and exchanged visits with officers of the iron gunboat USS Palos (and transferred an ensign to the American ship), and Russian, Japanese, and French men-of-war, the Japanese Consul, and the Foreign Adviser to King of Corea.

During the last two weeks of June, Essex remained anchored at Chemulpo. The Japanese mail steamer Owari Maru entered the harbor, delivered her mail, cargo, and passengers, and left Chemulpo; only to return nine days later. Essex exchanged visits and courtesies with French gunboat Aspic, Chinese cruisers Chih Yuen and Ching Yuen, sloop-of-war USS Juniata, cruiser HMS Leander, sloop HMS Satellite, the Chinese Consul, and the Superintendent of Trade of Chemulpo. Commander Jewell was the ranking American officer in Nagasaki’ accordingly, USS Palos came from the inner harbor and asked Commander Jewell permission to anchor in the outer harbor - Jewell answered ‘yes’. Similarly, USS Juniata asked permission of Jewell to salute the Japanese Consul; he granted permission and Juniata fired a 7-gun salute. On June 18, the ship’s colors were half-masted, along with the other ships in the harbor, on account of the death of the German Emperor. The next day, Essex landed a force of 13 men, 12 Marines, and two ship’s officers, all under arms, and proceeded on to Seoul; on June 21, the ship’s divisions were sent ashore for target practice. On June 25, Lt. Commander G. A. Bicknell returned from his 30 day leave and two days later, Seaman C.C. Anderson fell off the top gallant forecastle, injuring his head. On June 28, the crew dressed Essex in rainbow fashion with the British ensign at the main on honor of the  anniversary of Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838; the English, Russian, Chinese and Japanese vessels fired 21-gun salutes in honor of the day. On June 30, Japanese, Russian and English warships fired 7-gun salutes with the Chinese flag at the fore, and the Essex landing party returned from Seoul.

*April 12 is written on the page for April 11.

Tags:

American Ships: bark Adolf Obrig, sloop Flagship USS Brooklyn, sloop-of-war USS Essex, sloop-of-war USS Juniata, sloop USS Marion, gunboat USS Monocacy,, sloop USS Omaha, iron gunboat USS Palos, barque St. James, ship Yorktown

British Ships: protected cruiser HMS Leander, gunboat HMS Linnet, gunboat HMS Rattler, sloop HMS Satellite

Canadian Ship: steamer Parthia

Chinese Ships: cruiser Chih Yuen, cruiser Ching Yuen

French Ship: gunboat Aspic,corvette Parseval, cruiser Primauguet, battleship Flagship Turene

German/Prussian Ship: corvette Flagship Bismarck, corvette Corola, gunboat Iltes,corvette Sophie, gunboat Wolf

Japanese Ships: ironclad Fuso, mail steamer SS Owari Maru,ironclad Ryujo, mail steamer SS Tokio Maru

Russian Ships: gunboat Bobr, armored cruiser Flagship Dmitrii Donskoi, screw clipper Nayezdnik, corvette Rynda, corvette Vitiaz

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